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Reviews For: TopTen Devices Band Decoder & Switchbox

Category: Antenna Switching, Phasing, Controllers

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Review Summary For : TopTen Devices Band Decoder & Switchbox
Reviews: 10MSRP: 180.00
Description:
Automatic selection of antennas, amplifiers, bandpass filters.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.qth.com/topten/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00104.8
N6WIN Rating: 2017-11-13
Economical SO2R Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using two of these with the source mod's in order to drive my AS Sixpack and BPF's for SO2R. No problems at all and excellent support when I've emailed questions.
ZL4IV Rating: 2011-11-04
Handy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It's a handy unit but why only easy decoding of 6 bands plus 2 which the 'Source' mod does not accommodate? Yaesu radio's decode 9 bands to BCD. My favorite bands are 20, 17 & 12. Having to get into the unit and mod it so 15 becomes 17 & 10 becomes 12 as a 'Source' output on Auto for my 'RAT PAK' may be beyond some Hams knowledge. Use the same system but with full 'Source' output and display and it would be a 5.
K5KA Rating: 2008-07-12
Excellent products and service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just replaced one of my older band decoders with one for my new rig. I will restate what I said 5 years ago:

TopTen construction is commercial grade and their customer service sets an example for other suppliers to emulate.

Thanks to Dave and crew for doing things the right way.

73, Ken K5KA

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K5KA on 2003-02-19

I've been using a pair of decoders to switch ICE419 bandpass filters for about 3 years. I decided to add the "source driver" capability to the decoders to also switch antennas using a WX0B SixPak. Dave answered my query immediately ... (I mean in 15 minutes!) and I received the field installable upgrades in a couple of days. The install went flawless and they both work like a charm. TopTen construction is commercial grade and their customer service sets an example for other suppliers to emulate.

Ken K5KA
W3BG Rating: 2007-05-26
Well Built Solid Performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Top-Ten Band Decoder and Switch Box is just a plain fantastic product. I have been using mine at the base of my Pennsylvania located tower for four years now with no problems what-so-ever. It's like the old Timex commercial - "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking." No bells and whistles here, just a well built SOLID PERFORMER. You can't go wrong.
W1TE Rating: 2002-05-27
Outstanding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used these driven from the Yaesu "Band Data" port and from the computer LPT port to drive a homebrew diode switching matrix allowing the automatic selection or single band amplifiers and multiple antennas. Just install and it keeps on ticking for years. An added benefit when deriving the input signals from a computers LPT port is the "built-in" keing interface to allow the CW Keying from the computer port to drive the keing input of the transciever. If you desire to overide the computer or radio input control for some reason you can manually select the band from a front panel rotary switch.
PA3DUV Rating: 2002-04-17
Great Tool Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the Top Ten Band Decoder to switch the filter bank of my SG 500 HF Solid State Mobile Amplifier. The Decoder converts the band voltage from the Icom 706MKII into a pull up signal for each band. It has worked great from day 1 and it makes mobile operation safer because no manual band switching is needed. Just push that band button on the 706 and the Top Ten follows. Just great! Of course the SG500 has an automatic band filter switch but the neccesary rf sensing causes an annoying delay. So the Top Ten Decoder fills that bill. Dave has been very helpful in finding out the particulars of my application. Very much recommended!
Check it out at http://www.qsl.net/pa3duv
Best regards, Dick PA3DUV
W1WEF Rating: 2002-04-17
Use it to switch antennae... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In conjunction with homebrew ant switch boxes, I finally bought one from Dave, N3RD a few years ago. Before that it was on the back burner to build my own for years...hi Nice little box, no problems.
K2UT Rating: 2002-04-17
Excellent product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A handy little gizmo that no shack should be without. My rig (TS-850) doesn't provide direct band-decode outputs, so I get it from my computer while running either DX4WIN or WriteLog. Changing bands on the radio will quickly have the right antenna selected; no more transmitting into the wrong antenna at 3 AM Sunday morning during a long DX contest! I use the output to drive relays which then drive a WX0B antenna switch, but I've also used the TTD switch with excellent results. The outputs normally drive the selected control line to ground, but an option will drive +12v if needed. When not using it with a computer (or when I want to override the antenna selection for some reason), there is a manual band-select control on the front panel. Absolutely no problems in the 3 or 4 years I've owned this gizmo!
W2JJC Rating: 2001-08-17
It fills the bill Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have purchased two of these units along with the six way relay boxes for a future so2r station expansion.Dave N3RD has been most helpful and curtious.These units work well and so far have not had any problems.I'm also using them to control two Dunestar 600's band pass filters.I will be adding the six way relay boxes with tuned stubs.I would suggest this set up to any one wanting to get involed in high power so2r.
W4AN Rating: 1999-09-02
Most excellent Time Owned: unknown months.
Dave, N3RD, has been great and the product is excellent. I've had some lightning take out my decoders, but Dave fixed them ASAP. That's all a guy can ask for in these days and times. TopTen Devices boxes allow me to have any antenna on either radio. This greatly improves my flexibility for contesting.